101-21 SAKS CREEK K 46 
N55°56.8 W131°7.5 Previous No. 42 
KETCHIKAN, EASTERN BEHM CANAL, SAKS COVE, S. head 
MAJOR SPECIES Pink and chum OTHER SPECIES Coho, trout 
ESCAPEMENT TIMING Middle. Aug. -Sep. ESCAPEMENT MAGNITUDE 30,000 
SPAWNING FACILITIES Extensive intertidal spawning facilities. Good upstream, though limited to lower 
stream by falls. 
STREAM TEMPERATURES. Warm range. Observed temperatures: 46°F., 7/17/49; 53-58°F., 1950; 
58°F., 9/15/51; 52-63°F., 1952; 51-55°F., 1953. 
VALLEY DESCRIPTION Stream cut glacial. Steep valley slope, wooded and brush valley floor. Boulder 
erratics in upper valley. 
DRAINAGE Two lakes drain into this stream, the larger being just N. of the lake on Robinson Creek (K 45). 
Greater than 25 square miles (estimated). Snowfields on the high ridges. 
STREAM MOUTH IDENTIFICATION Stream enters Saks Cove on S. side of delta. A number of old piling 
in the lower intertidal zone. Long sand beach extends across delta. Grassflats extensive on S. side of intertidal, 
small tributary crossing them. 
ANCHORAGE N. of mouth off sand beach. 
TRAILS AND SURVEY ROUTES Game trails. Intertidal zone long, but easily walked. On high tide, skiff 
can be taken to marker. : 
AERIAL SURVEY NOTES Approach second falls along S. side of valley, turn onto S. side for best visibility, 
crossing to N. side for intertidal observations. Excellent lower stream aerial visibility. 
INTERTIDAL ZONE 
LENGTH  .3 miles AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 60-80'/12-18" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than 1° at 2' per second 
BOTTOM Sand, gravel, scattered rocks. 
HIGH TIDE LOCATION Upper end of small island formed by split in stream. This is below the tributary 
entering from the N. bank. 
SCHOOLING AREAS _ Throughout the mid-tide mark to high tide mark, most in the shallow pools around the bend. 
SPAWNING AREAS _ Heavy spawning has been observed throughout the upper intertidal area. This is suitable even 
in the schooling areas. 
GENERAL NOTES 
UPSTREAM 
LENGTH ACCESSIBLE 1mile AVERAGE WIDTH/DEPTH 40-50'/18-24" 
GRADIENT AND VELOCITIES Less than 1° at 2! per second 
BOTTOM _ Gravel, some scattered small boulders. 
MARKER DISTANCE  .-3 miles. 
MARKER IDENTIFICATION Small pool at the base of the rock cliff on N. side. Farthest skiff can be taken 
with ease. 
BARRIERS There is a 15 foot waterfall .5 miles above high tide which serves as a serious obstacle to the passage 
of fish. An impassable barrier falls is 1 mile above high tide mark. 
TRIBUTARIES Small tributary from the N. valley enters creek above high tide. 
SCHOOLING AREAS Several pools along S. side of riffle areas near high tide. Some salmon have been observed 
below first falls schooled. 
SPAWNING AREAS Section of stream above high tide to marker is most heavily spawned area of upstream. 
Riffle area above marker good, but not used nearly as much. Very few fish have been observed above first falls 
to barrier. 
GENERAL NOTES 
